Longer Term Follow-up of a Multicenter, Phase 2 Study of Ibrutinib Plus Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, Rituximab (iFCR) As Initial Therapy for Younger Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract Introduction FCR remains the only therapy other than allo transplant proven to provide a significant chance of functional cure with very long term follow-up for young, fit patients with mutated IGHV CLL. Given the excellent efficacy and tolerability of ibrutinib in a broad population of young, fit CLL patients, we designed the frontline iFCR study to investigate whether time-limited novel agent plus chemoimmunotherapy could provide durable remission for CLL patients irrespective of IGHV status. We previously reported that with a median follow-up of 16.5 months, the rate of CR with bone marrow undetectable minimal residual disease (BM-uMRD) 2 months post-FCR (primary endpoint) was 33%, and that 84% of patients achieved BM-uMRD as best response (Davids et al., Lancet Haem, 2019). Here, we report updated data with longer follow-up, with all patients having had the opportunity to complete 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance following iFCR. Methods This is a multicenter, single arm, phase 2 investigator sponsored trial (NCT02251548) which enrolled CLL patients age ≤65 years without restriction by IGHV mutation status, all of whom met iwCLL treatment criteria. Ibrutinib 420 mg daily was given for 7 days, then combination ibrutinib with FCR for up to 6 cycles. Responders continued on ibrutinib maintenance, and patients with BM-uMRD after 2 years of maintenance discontinued therapy. Response was assessed by 2008 iwCLL criteria, and toxicity by CTCAE v4.03 and iwCLL criteria. The primary objective was to determine the rate of CR/CRi with BM-uMRD 2 months after iFCR combination. Secondary objectives were to assess response rates, PFS/OS, rates of BM-uMRD after 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance, and safety/tolerability. Results Between October, 2014, and April, 2018, 85 patients were enrolled at 9 US sites.As previously reported, the median age was 55 years (range 38-65). IGHV was unmutated in 46/79 patients (58.2%). Deletion of 17p and TP53 mutation were present in 4/83 (4.8%) and 3/81 (3.7%) patients, respectively; 2 of these patients had both. The median number of FCR cycles completed was 6 (range 1-6). Median follow-up is now 40.3 months (range 3.1-76). Median number of ibrutinib maintenance cycles is 24 (range 0-81). By ITT analysis, the rate of CR with BM-uMRD at any point on study is now 55% (47/85 patients), and best rate of BM-uMRD remained 84% (71/85). After 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance, the rates of CR/CRi, BM-uMRD, and PB-uMRD in patients with available data were 77% (44/57), 81% (50/62), and 81% (55/68), respectively, with no differences based on IGHV status. At the median follow-up time of 40 months, PFS and OS for all patients were 97% and 99%, respectively (see Figure, below). Thirteen of 61 patients (21.3%) who completed iFCR and started ibrutinib maintenance in a BM-uMRD state have had recurrent BM-MRD, with median time to MRD recurrence not yet reached. Seven patients underwent retreatment with ibrutinib monotherapy (5 due to clinical progression and 2 due to recurrent BM-MRD without clinical progression), and all 7 achieved PR with re-treatment. Median time on re-treatment is 12.8 months (range 4.2-26.2), and none of these 7 patients have progressed on re-treatment. One patient died 17 months into ibrutinib maintenance due to presumed sudden cardiac death. In the updated safety analysis, the most common treatment-emergent Gr 3/4 adverse events were hematologic, including neutropenia 40% (up from 35%), thrombocytopenia 32% (unchanged), and anemia 11% (unchanged). Ten patients (12%, up from 9%) experienced Gr ≥3 febrile neutropenia, and 20 patients (24%, up from 11%) had Gr ≥3 infection. Any Gr atrial fibrillation was observed in 8%, and ventricular arrhythmia in 1 patient. No major bleeding events occurred. Two patients developed MDS, and both are now in CR for CLL and MDS after undergoing allo transplant. No patients developed Richter's syndrome. Conclusions With longer term follow-up (median of 40.3 months), most patients treated with iFCR have continued to maintain deep responses, including patients with unmutated IGHV. The safety profile remains consistent with the individual toxicities of ibrutinib and FCR. Among the few patients with recurrence after this time-limited therapy, all have responded to re-treatment with ibrutinib monotherapy. iFCR is worthy of exploring in comparative studies in younger, fit CLL patients who desire the possibility of functional cure with time-limited therapy. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Davids: Ascentage Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Eli Lilly and Company: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding; Surface Oncology: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy. Brander: NCCN: Other: panel member; Verastem: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics/Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; ArQule: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: Biosimilars outcomes research panel; DTRM: Research Funding; ArQule/Merck: Consultancy; LOXO: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: informCLL registry steering committee, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding. Montegaard: AbbVie: Consultancy; AstraZeneca*-: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy. Alencar: Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Jacobson: Humanigen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Axis: Speakers Bureau; Lonza: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Clinical Care Options: Speakers Bureau; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Nkarta: Consultancy, Honoraria. Armand: Infinity: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Kite: Research Funding; Tensha: Research Funding; IGM: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Enterome: Consultancy; Regeneron: Consultancy; C4: Consultancy; GenMab: Consultancy; Tessa Therapeutics: Consultancy; Miltenyi: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Otsuka: Research Funding; Sigma Tau: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Adaptive: Consultancy, Research Funding; Affimed: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Crombie: Roche: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. LaCasce: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.: Other: Data Safetly and Monitoring. Arnason: Juno/BMS: Honoraria. Hochberg: Trapelo Health: Consultancy; Leuko: Consultancy. Abramson: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; C4 Therapeutics: Consultancy; EMD Serono: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Kymera: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy; Allogene Therapeutics: Consultancy; Seagen Inc.: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy. Brown: Gilead, Loxo/Lilly, SecuraBio, Sun, TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Invectys: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Committee Service; Abbvie, Acerta/Astra-Zeneca, Beigene, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Juno/Celgene, Catapult, Eli Lilly, Genentech/Roche, Janssen, MEI Pharma, Morphosys AG, Nextcea, Novartis, Pfizer, Rigel: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Ibrutinib being used to enhance the efficacy of FC

Five-year follow-up of a phase 2 study of ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as initial therapy in CLL

We previously reported high rates of undetectable minimal residual disease <10-4 (uMRD4) with ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (iFCR) followed by 2-year ibrutinib maintenance (I-M) in treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here, we report updated data from this phase 2 study with a median follow-up of 63 months. Of 85 patients enrolled including 5 (6%) with deletion 17p or TP53 mutation, 91% completed iFCR and 2-year I-M. 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 94% (95% CI 89-100%) and 99% (95% CI 96-100%), respectively. No additional deaths have occurred with this extended follow-up. No difference in PFS was observed by IGHV status or duration of I-M. High rates of peripheral blood (PB) uMRD4 were maintained (72% at the end of iFCR, 66% at the end of 2-year I-M, 44% at 4.5 years from treatment initiation). Thirteen patients developed MRD conversion without clinical progression, mostly (77%) after stopping ibrutinib. None had BTK mutations. One patient had PLCG2 mutation. Six of these patients underwent ibrutinib re-treatment per protocol. Median time on ibrutinib retreatment was 34 months. The cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation was 8%. Second malignancy or non-malignant hematologic disease occurred in 13%, mostly non-melanoma skin cancer. Overall, iFCR with 2-year I-M achieved durably deep responses in patients with diverse CLL genetic markers. Re-emergent clones lacked BTK mutation and retained sensitivity to ibrutinib upon retreatment. NCT02251548

Ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as initial treatment for younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) can improve disease-free survival for younger (age ≤65 years) fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with mutated IGHV. However, patients with unmutated IGHV rarely have durable responses. Ibrutinib is active for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia irrespective of IGHV mutation status but requires continuous treatment. We postulated that time-limited ibrutinib plus FCR would induce durable responses in younger fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We did a multicentre, open-label, non-randomised, single-arm phase 2 trial at seven sites in the USA. We enrolled patients aged 65 years or younger with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Our initial cohort (original cohort) was not restricted by prognostic marker status and included patients who had del(17p) or TP53 aberrations. After a protocol amendment (on March 21, 2017), we enrolled an additional cohort (expansion cohort) that included patients without del(17p). Ibrutinib was given orally (420 mg/day) for 7 days, then up to six 28-day cycles were administered intravenously of fludarabine (25 mg/m , days 1-3), cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m , days 1-3), and rituximab (375 mg/m day 1 of cycle 1; 500 mg/m day 1 of cycles 2-6) with continuous oral ibrutinib (420 mg/day). Responders continued on ibrutinib maintenance for up to 2 years, and patients with undetectable minimal residual disease in bone marrow after 2 years were able to discontinue treatment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a complete response with undetectable minimal residual disease in bone marrow 2 months after the last cycle of ibrutinib plus FCR. Analyses were done per-protocol in all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02251548) and is ongoing. Between Oct 23, 2014, and April 23, 2018, 85 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were enrolled. del(17p) was detected in four (5%) of 83 patients and TP53 mutations were noted in three (4%) of 81 patients; two patients had both del(17p) and TP53 mutations. Median patients' age was 55 years (IQR 50-58). At data cutoff, median follow-up was 16·5 months (IQR 10·6-34·1). A complete response and undetectable minimal residual disease in bone marrow 2 months after the last cycle of ibrutinib plus FCR was achieved by 28 (33%, 95% CI 0·23-0·44) of 85 patients (p=0·0035 compared with a 20% historical value with FCR alone). A best response of undetectable minimal residual disease in bone marrow was achieved by 71 (84%) of 85 patients during the study. One patient had disease progression and one patient died (sudden cardiac death after 17 months of ibrutinib maintenance, assessed as possibly related to ibrutinib). The most common all-grade toxic effects were haematological, including thrombocytopenia in 63 (74%) patients, neutropenia in 53 (62%), and anaemia in 41 (49%). Grade 3 or 4 non-haematological serious adverse events included grade 3 atrial fibrillation in three (4%) patients and grade 3 Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in two (2%). The proportion of patients who achieved undetectable minimal residual disease in bone marrow with ibrutinib plus FCR is, to our knowledge, the highest ever published in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia unrestricted by prognostic marker status. Ibrutinib plus FCR is promising as a time-limited combination regimen for frontline chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment in younger fit patients. Pharmacyclics and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Doxorubicin, vinblastine, and gemcitabine (CALGB 50203) for stage I/II nonbulky Hodgkin lymphoma: pretreatment prognostic factors and interim PET

To reduce doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine toxicity, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B conducted a phase 2 trial of doxorubicin, vinblastine, and gemcitabine for newly diagnosed, nonbulky stages I and II Hodgkin lymphoma. Ninety-nine assessable patients received 6 cycles of doxorubicin 25 mg/m2, vinblastine 6 mg/m2, and gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 (1000 mg/m2 in first 6) on days 1 and 15 every 28 days. Computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) were performed before and after 2 and 6 cycles. Complete remission (CR)/CR unconfirmed was achieved in 72 of 99 patients (72.7%) and partial remission in 24 of 99 patients (24.2%). The CR rate was 81% when using PET criteria. Two patients have died of Hodgkin lymphoma progression. Median follow-up for nonprogressing patients is 3.3 years. The progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years was 77% (95% confidence interval, 68%-84%). The relapse rate was less than 10% for patients with favorable prognostic factors. The 2-year PFS for cycle 2 PET-negative and -positive patients was 88% and 54%, respectively (P = .0009), compared with 89% and 27% for cycle 6 PET-negative and -positive patients (P = .0001). Although the CR rate and PFS were lower than anticipated, patients with favorable prognostic features had a low rate of relapse. Cycle 2 PET and cycle 6 PET were predictive of PFS. This clinical trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00086801